by Brian Duthu
Pro Shops
For the first time this year we failed to meet our budgeted goals, with total revenue missing budget by $12,409. While all categories failed to meet budgeted goals Daily Surcharge play and Public Play exceeded budgeted goals. Revenue heads into the summer months $153,681 ahead of budget and $260,366 ahead of prior year. Prior year revenue has been aided by having an additional course available for play.
“Get Golf Ready” class attendance totaled 110 students for the season. The attendance was relatively unchanged from the 109 students the previous year. The “Get Golf Ready” classes are a national PGA initiative to increase golf participation. Nationally in 2015, the “Get Golf Ready” program introduced 107,000 students to the game of golf. “Get Golf Ready” classes will begin again in November and are available to Sun City residents and guests.
Golf Courses
On Tuesday, May 17 we conducted our annual USGA visit with Brian Whitlark. Mr. Whitlark is an Agronomist for the USGA, representing the Southwest Region. During the visit we managed to visit all of our golf courses, with the exception of Quail Run. We began our day at Willowbrook, reviewing/discussing the upcoming renovation to both Willowbrook and Willowcreek. Due to the abnormal amount of turf (by today’s standard in Arizona), turf reduction has always been a topic of conversation. Mr. Whitlark was pleased with the Board’s decision to be pro-active removing turf from our golf courses as well as the decision to rebuild the greens at Willowcreek. Mr. Whitlark recommended a deep tine green aerification for most of our courses that would be in addition to our normal aerification process. The timing of overseeding was a major point of discussion, as we try to find the best window and keep golf available during this process. He was very pleased with the progress North has made since his visit last year and that his recommendations for tree removal were followed. His full report will be available online when it is received.
The irrigation project on Lakes East began as scheduled on May 2. To date, the main line has been laid from the pump station on hole number 5 green backwards towards hole number 1 and back again to the 6th tee. The pump station has been delivered and is awaiting in field modifications prior to final connections. Preparations are underway for the boring of the mainline under the parking lot and across Talisman Road. Landscape work will begin once more significant progress has been made to the irrigation system.
The lake/pump station project for Willowbrook is well underway. This work is part of the 2017 irrigation renovation and aids that project by completing a significant amount of work ahead of time. Fish were removed the week of May 2 and transferred to other lakes on Willowcreek. This project is scheduled to be completed mid-July.
Fairway aerification began May 23 at South and continues through June 21 at Riverview. The only exception to this schedule is Lakes East. The full aerification schedule can be found on the sunaz.com website. Green aerification will begin July 5th at South. As a reminder courses will be closed longer for Green aerification, to give crews time to also verticut fairways.
Snack Shops
Snack Shop performance mirrored Pro Shop performance, missing budget by $3,889. Despite the miss, Snack Shops enter the summer months with a healthy positive variance to revenue budget. Snack Shops are now closing at 3:00 p.m. on a consistent basis.
Lawn Bowl and Grounds
We are closely monitoring requests from the committee to plane the greens at the Bell Center. Unusually mild temperatures in May have been the determining factor in not starting. We have also met with a contractor to laser level and top dress the greens following planing. Both these practices are best accomplished during periods of vigorous growth, from the end of June through July.
The Lawn Bowl committee report 5,502 bowlers during the first quarter of 2016. The committee also reported a total of 14,397 bowlers in 2015. Reporting is voluntary and could result in an under reporting of attendance.